Emotional return to Edmonton for local soldiers

Photos: Troops return from Afghanistan (Dec. 13, 2013)

Maddison Bouchard, 3, left, and Chloe Bouchard, 2, right, wait for their father at the Lecture Training Facility at CFB Edmonton in Edmonton, Alta., on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned to Edmonton from Afghanistan. Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun

A soldier is embraced by a loved one after arriving at the Lecture Training Facility at CFB Edmonton in Edmonton, Alta., on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned to Edmonton from Afghanistan. Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun

A family shares a moment at the Lecture Training Facility at CFB Edmonton in Edmonton, Alta., on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned to Edmonton from Afghanistan. Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun

A soldier and his loved one share a moment at the Lecture Training Facility at CFB Edmonton in Edmonton, Alta., on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned to Edmonton from Afghanistan. Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun

A soldier and his loved one share a moment at the Lecture Training Facility at CFB Edmonton in Edmonton, Alta., on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned to Edmonton from Afghanistan. Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun

Master Cpl. Frieda Van Putten plays with her Bernese Mountain Dog, Lacy, after arriving at the Lecture Training Facility at CFB Edmonton in Edmonton, Alta., on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned to Edmonton from Afghanistan. Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun

Master Cpl. Frieda Van Putten plays with her Bernese Mountain Dog, Lacy, after arriving at the Lecture Training Facility at CFB Edmonton in Edmonton, Alta., on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned to Edmonton from Afghanistan. Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun

Master Warrant Officer Don Cormier hugs his son, Nathan Cormier, 7, after arriving at the Lecture Training Facility at CFB Edmonton in Edmonton, Alta., on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned to Edmonton from Afghanistan. Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun

Master Warrant Officer Don Cormier, right, is greeted enthusiastically by his wife, Jennifer Cormier, at the Lecture Training Facility at CFB Edmonton in Edmonton, Alta., on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned to Edmonton from Afghanistan. Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun

Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned home as part of the final commitment of Canadian troops in Afghanistan at the Shell AeroCentre at the Edmonton International Airport on Friday, December 13, 2013. TREVOR ROBB/Edmonton Sun

TREVOR ROBB/Edmonton Examiner/QMI Agency

Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned home as part of the final commitment of Canadian troops in Afghanistan at the Shell AeroCentre at the Edmonton International Airport on Friday, December 13, 2013. TREVOR ROBB/Edmonton Sun

TREVOR ROBB/Edmonton Examiner/QMI Agency

Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned home as part of the final commitment of Canadian troops in Afghanistan at the Shell AeroCentre at the Edmonton International Airport on Friday, December 13, 2013. TREVOR ROBB/Edmonton Sun

TREVOR ROBB/Edmonton Examiner/QMI Agency

Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned home as part of the final commitment of Canadian troops in Afghanistan at the Shell AeroCentre at the Edmonton International Airport on Friday, December 13, 2013. TREVOR ROBB/Edmonton Sun

TREVOR ROBB/Edmonton Examiner/QMI Agency

Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned home as part of the final commitment of Canadian troops in Afghanistan at the Shell AeroCentre at the Edmonton International Airport on Friday, December 13, 2013. TREVOR ROBB/Edmonton Sun

TREVOR ROBB/Edmonton Examiner/QMI Agency

Approximately 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces returned home as part of the final commitment of Canadian troops in Afghanistan at the Shell AeroCentre at the Edmonton International Airport on Friday, December 13, 2013. TREVOR ROBB/Edmonton Sun

Topics

Up until Friday, Master Warrant Officer Don Cormier had never heard his three-year-old daughter speak.

For the past six months, Cormier has been working as a senior supply technician for the Canadian Armed Forces task force in Afghanistan.

Admittedly, missing out on the growth of his daughter has been a tough experience.

“I think that’s one of the biggest challenges for a soldier, we train our whole career and we’re very confident in what we do, but it’s hard to prepare for being away from your loved ones for so long,” said Cormier, who also has a seven-year-old son.

“Reuniting with my family is a thing I’ve been looking forward to for the past six months — I’m glad to hear what my daughter has to say to me.”

The story is similar for Lt. Andre Bouchard who missed out on his son’s birth while serving overseas.

His wife, Miranda Bouchard, waited patiently for her husband’s arrival at the Lecture Training Facility at the Edmonton Garrison on Friday evening.

“We’re very much looking forward to him coming home — I can’t even put it into words,” said Bouchard. “My husband was there for his daughter’s birth but he missed out on his son’s, and I just can’t wait to finally be able to hand him his son — it’s going to be amazing.”

The pair are part of a group of 35 soldiers who touched down Friday at the tarmac at the Shell AeroCentre at the Edmonton International Airport.

The returning soldiers were part of Task Force 2-13 in support of Operation ATTENTION, Canada’s role in the NATO training mission in Afghanistan, which delivers support to the national security forces of Afghanistan, the Afghan National Army, the Afghan Air Forces, and the Afghan National Police.

The redeployment saw a total of 107 soldiers return home, making stops in Trenton and Winnipeg before landing in Edmonton.

Emotional return to Edmonton for local soldiers

Up until Friday, Master Warrant Officer Don Cormier had never heard his three-year-old daughter speak.

For the past six months, Cormier has been working as a senior supply technician for the Canadian Armed Forces task force in Afghanistan.

Admittedly, missing out on the growth of his daughter has been a tough experience.

“I think that’s one of the biggest challenges for a soldier, we train our whole career and we’re very confident in what we do, but it’s hard to prepare for being away from your loved ones for so long,” said Cormier, who also has a seven-year-old son.

“Reuniting with my family is a thing I’ve been looking forward to for the past six months — I’m glad to hear what my daughter has to say to me.”

The story is similar for Lt. Andre Bouchard who missed out on his son’s birth while serving overseas.

His wife, Miranda Bouchard, waited patiently for her husband’s arrival at the Lecture Training Facility at the Edmonton Garriso